Steering range for automobiles



C. W. ANDERSON STEERING RANGE FOR AUTOMOBILES Nov. 29, 1 927. 1,651,174

Filed March 1927 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

cHARLE-s w. ANDERSON, or MILAN, OHIO.

's'rnnnrno RANGE non AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed March 7, 192

ance limits of an approaching vehicle,

whereby passage may be effected without ncessitating an appreciablediminution of speed, and with a greater degree of safety. In thisconnection my invention is directed to are means which may be readilymounted on a motor vehicle, and may be. adapted for facilitating rangedetermination at night as well as at day. The invention alsocontemplates an adjustable device which may be arranged to suit thedrivers convenience.

In practice the device embodying my invention is mounted on the forwardpart'of the vehicle and preferably in the direct line of straight-aheadvision. In this way the driver may readily detect any lateral movementof the car from a pre-determined direction of travel, and thus may moreeasily maintain the vehicle in the desired path of travel.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the motor vehicle having myinvention attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device;Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the device on a planeinclicated by the line 3& in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofpart of a motor vehicle having my invention attached thereto.

The preferred construction of a steering range device embodying myinvention comprises a member 10 having a plurality of spaced points 11disposed thereon adjacent the upper end thereof. This member as showncomprises a curved plate which is fastened in any suitable manner to theeX- terior surface of a casing, or housing 12. The housing illustratedis a tubular member in which provision is made for supporting anelectric lamp 13. The housing may be provided with a removable cover 14,the top of which is below the spaced points 11.

The housing is supported: in any convenient manner adjacent the frontportion of the vehicle and at the desired point which the driver wishesto use as a marker for enabling him to control with accuracy the po- Theinvention Serial No. 173,537.

sition of the vehicle. One form of such support embodies telescopingtubes 15 and 16,

the first of which is attached to the housing and is arranged toslidably engage the second and to be positioned thereon by means of aset screw '17. The member 16 may be fastened in any convenient way tothe vehicle. The lead 18 for the lamp may be passed through the tubing.

For enabling the driver to maintain a vehicle in a straight line. path,I prefer to mount the device, which I term a steering range, directly inthe normal line of straight-ahead vision. F or use on busses or trucks,one or more of such steering ranges may be employed at different partsof the forward portion of the vehicle. For example, one may bepositioneu in the line of straight-ahead vision, while another may bemounted near the right-hand side of the vehicle and may be adjusted soas to bring one of the pointers in a line with the curb. By so adjustingthe steering range that the curb is disposed in the line of vision withone of the pointers, while the wheels are a pre-determined distance fromthe curb line, then the driver may be assuredof operating the vehicle atav fair rate of speed with safety. This isadvantageous on busses,particularly since the distance between the rear wheels is greater thanthe distance between the front wheels.

For straight-ahead driving, the steering range is usually so mountedthat in lowest position the pointers are about on a level with theradiator cap. The adjustmentpermits movement above this position to suitthe convenience of the driver. For night driving an aperture 20 in thecasing permits a sufficient amount of light to show in the region of thepointers to insure a good vision thereof, without throwing a glare inthe eyes of the driver.

As shown, the bottom of the plate 10 is closed so as to confine the raysof light upon the pointers, while a small opening 21 permitsthe drainageof any rainwater which may be collected between the plate and casing. I

A steering range made in accordance with my invention can be madeornamental, and when mounted on a mot-or vehicle, can be readilyadjusted to suit the requirements of any particular driver. By meansofthe range the driver may readily detect slight swerving of thevehicle, and thus may mainllO proaching vehicle is sufficiently far awayto enable clearance space to be determned, and then may easily I claim:

1. In combination, a motor vehicle, a steering range member mounted onthe forward portion of the vehicle, said member being disposed on oneside of the center line of the vehicle and having the upper endterminating in. a plurality of points, and means for adjusting themember vertically with reference to the vehicle.

2. in combination, a motor vehicle having a hood and a head-lamp, and asteering range member projecting upwardly from the forward portion-ofthe vehicle and between the head-lamp and hood said member terminatingin a point atthe upper end thereof.

3. In combination a motor vehicle having a hood, a member mounted on theforward end of the vehicle, and projecting upwardly therefrom, saidmember being mounted normally in a line of straight-ahead vision of thedriver, and approximately on a level with the top of said hood.

4-. A steering range device comprising a member having one end thereofterminating in a point, a hollow casing associated with maintain suchset position.

6. A device of the character described comprising in combination, asteering range member embodying a curved plate having one end thereofteri'i'iinating in a point, a hollow casing su 'iporting said member andhaving an aperture therein, and illuminating means within the casingsaid means being adapted toemit rays of light through said opening andonto the concave side of said plate. I

7.21 device of the character described comprising in combination, ahollow casing,

a curved plate carried by the casing and having a portion thereofprojecting above the top of the casing, illuminating means within thecasing, there being an opening in the casing through which rays of lightmay be directed onto that portion of the plate which projects above thecasing, a support, and means for adjusting the casing vertically uponthe support.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

CHARLES WM. ANDERSON. i

